Amsterdam and Paris won the right to host the two EU agencies that must leave London on Brexit after a dramatic ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday (20 November) that left both result decided by drawing lots after votes were tied.

The Dutch video for Amsterdam’s EMA candidacy had stressed a continuity with two famed parts of British life, saying that “we also have a very stylish queen, and enjoy fish and chips”.

The Dutch government says that in addition to the economic boost of the staff and their families moving to the country, it also expects the agency to attract some 36,000 business visitors a year.

But the failure of the “Venice of the North” to get the agency’s new home ready in time prompted a legal challenge by Italy as well as concerns by officials and lawmakers.

Rasi brushed aside concerns about the temporary offices: “As long as it works, it’s good.”

“What will be important, is that we will be, probably, back at full force in November, the final building will be ready for that time.”

The Dutch minister promised that they would meet the deadline.

“Today we have reached a milestone: the formal handover of this building,” he said, adding that it was a “temporary home because as foreseen in our bid to host the agency, a final home will be delivered this November”.

Offering a business-friendly, English-speaking environment and tax regime, the Netherlands has rolled out the ‘orange carpet’ to win companies and agencies leaving Britain after Brexit.

But Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte denied that Brexit was a good thing for the Netherlands.

“I don’t want to see this as a business opportunity, because it is not,” he said during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which largely focused on preventing Britain from crashing out of the EU without a divorce deal.

“Brexit is not good and a hard Brexit could even be worse, and that could never be offset by extra investments from other countries.”

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